The stoat is a small mustelid, related to the weasel and otter. It has an
orange body, black-tipped tail and distinctive bounding gait. Spot it on
grassland, heaths and in woodlands across the UK.
About
The
stoat is a small predator, with a long, low-slung body that makes it
particularly well suited to hunting small rodents and rabbits. It can
easily kill an adult rabbit, which is much larger than itself, with a
bite to the base of the skull. Stoats are active by day and night, and
are easiest to spot in open habitats, such as sand dunes, grassland and
heathland. They mate in summer, but delay implantation of the fertilised
egg until the spring of the following year. They have one litter of six
to twelve kits a year.How to identify
The
stoat has an orangey-brown back, a creamy white throat and belly, and a
black-tipped tail. It is larger than the similar weasel, has a longer
tail and has a distinctive bounding gait, arching its back as it moves;
weasels do not bound, but run close to the ground.Distribution
Widespread,
found throughout the country, although absent from some Scottish
islands, the Isles of Scilly and most of the Channel Islands.Did you know?
In the winter, stoats living
in colder climes may turn almost completely white, with just a black tip
to the tail. This is known as 'ermine' and the fur is extra dense to
help them keep warm. Stoats in warmer parts of the UK may not change
colour at all, or may take on a 'patchy' appearance.
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